Steering trailer



March 2, 1943. c. C.I-IIUNT -'2,'312,646

STEERING VTRAILER Filed May 16, 1941 2 She etS-She'et 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2March 2, 1943. c. C. HUNT smname TRAILER Filed May 16, 1941 PatentedMar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES STEERING'TTEAIEER Charles Calvin Hunt; Utica,Ohio Application May '16, 1941; SeriallgNo. 391358300.

1 Claim.- (01. 2805-33155) The present invention relates to improvementsin steering trailers.

The primary object of the-invention is-to provide a trailer running gearadapted to be coupled with the draft vehicle so that thewheels of thetrailer will follow-the tracks of the draft vehicle whilenegotiating'turns in a forward direction as well as in reverse whilebacking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steering trailer inwhich the running gear is of the stub axle steering type todecrease thewear of the tires of the steering trailer-wheels by eliminatingscuffing-at the tread ofthe *tires.

A further object of the invention is-toprovide a steering trailer oftheabove-mentioned type having a control coupling linkage capable of quickand easy attachment to the draft vehicle without requiring the use ofintricate mechamsm.

A still further object-of the'invention is to provide a steering.trailer which will relieve stresses and strains onthe draft vehiclewhile turning corners and willpreventthe'trailer from strikingobstructions during turns such as curbs;- trafiic devices and trees.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent duringthe course of the following description of the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrating the same applied to a camping trailer.

Figure 2 is a top elevational view of the same showing the trailerbodyremoved for disclosing the trailer running gear and chassis.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the inventionillustrating the same ap plied to a typical commercial trailer.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the steering arm employedfor coupling the control linkage to the draft vehicle.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the universal connectionbetween the steering arm and draft Vehicle and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view of the linkconnecting the steering arm to universal connection.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, and whereinlike reference characters will be employed to designate like partsthroughout the same, attention is first directed to Figures 1 and 2wherein the reference character 5 will be employed to generallydesignate a draft vehicle such as a motor vehicle supported by wheels Iand having a rear bumper guard 9.

Secured to the rear-ebumper guard 9-isa ushaped bracket l-l-',- ttieupper portion of which prov-ides -atrailer coupling for receiving: adraft bar-'13 pivotally-connectedtoa trailer l 5 as at H.

The trailer [5 comprises suitable running-gear including. achassisframe-lil supported by an axle 21 secured thereto-and -havingwheels 23.

The Wheelsu2-3 are carried by stub axles 25 mountedin axle forks -2='l--so that thewheels will turn on the kingpi'ns- 3!). Steering arms 32are secured to the stub: axles 25- and-are connected by means of T aradius-rod :34' -theendsof which are secured 'thereto by ball and socketconnections 36.-

One. of the steering arms was provided" with an extension for:connection with a drag link lli adapt'ed to beoperatively securedtothesteeringcontrol linkage carried' by the trailere Rotatably mounted inthewchass-is Wand extending longitudinally thereof is a shaft 42'journaledin bearings 44' andAB' at the opposite-ends thereof; The end ofthe shaft '42 "adjacentthe journal bearing 46-=is-provided with a crankarm 48 secured thereto by: means of v a-- collar 5t so that the swingingend can be connected' to the draglinkdil by means of a balland socketconnection 52.

The opposite end of the shaft 42 is provided with a similar crank arm 54secured in place by a collar 56 whereby the swinging end of the crankarm can be connected to a control link 58 by a ball and socket jointBil.

Formed on the other end of the control link 58 is a yoke 62 adapted tostraddle a spherical connector 64 fastened in position by means of apivot pin 66.

The spherical connector 64 is secured to the 7 lower leg 68 of theU-shaped bracket l l by means of a pivoted connection 10. It will thusbe seen that turning of the vehicle 5 to the right or left will causethe trailer steering wheels 23 to be moved correspondingly to cause thewheels to follow in the tracks of the vehicle 5 and that short turns canbe negotiated with a minimum of exertion and effort.

In the modified form of the invention, as

shown in Figures 3 to 6- inclusive, the invention is illustrated a beingapplied to a truck trailer and includes a draft vehicle such as a truckor the like having a chassis frame 12 supported in the rear by wheels14. The truck trailer includes a chassis frame 16 having an offsetportion 18 extending above the truck chassis l2 and connected therewithby means of a truck trailer coupling 80.

The trailer chassis I6 is supported by wheels 82 mounted on stub axles84 secured to the ends of a supporting axle 86. The stub axles 84 areconnected by means of a radius rod 88 and one of the stub axles isprovided with an extension 90 as shown in Fig. 3.

Journaled in bearings 92 and 94 secured to transverse chassi frame barsand extending longitudinally with respect to the chassis I6 is an offsetshaft I on the ends of which are attached swinging arms I 02 and I04adjacent the respective journal bearings 92 and 94,

The swinging arm I04 is connected to the stub axle steering extension 90by means of a steering link I06. Ball and socket connections I08 and II0 are provided on the ends of the steering link to reduce friction.

The opposite swinging arm I02 is provided with a ball connector II2 heldin place by a nut II4 threaded on the shank thereof. The ball connectorextends through an opening II 5 in a sleeve H6 in which is locatedopposed socket members II8. A block I closes one end of the sleeve H6and is locked in place by a cotter key I22.

Threaded in the opposite end of the leeve I I6 is an adjusting link I 24both ends of which are threaded as is clearly shown in Figure 6.

Threaded on the opposite end of the rod I24 is a collar I25 having alocking screw I28 for locking the collar in an adjustant position. Ayoke I30 secured to the collar I26 is adapted to straddle a sphericalconnector I32 having a transverse opening through which extends abearing sleeve I34. A bolt I36 passes through opposed openings I38 inthe yoke and through the sleeve I 34 to prevent displacement of the yokeand spacing collars I40 are interposed between the spherical member andyoke to prevent lateral play thereof.

A shank I 42 is formed integral with the spherical member and said shankextends through a bracket I44 secured to the truck chassis 12 by meansof a base plate I46, Interposed between the bracket I44 and shank I42 isa bearing sleeve I48 locked to the shank I42 by means of a set screw I52 and a washer I52 surrounds the bearing member I48 above the bracketI44 providing a thrust bearing.

As noted in Figure 4,'the swinging arm I 02 has its collar IOI locked toa tapered portion I03 of the shaft I00 by means of a jib key I05 toinsure against rotation of the collar IOI with respect to the shaft I00and the shank H5 of the spherical member may be adjusted with respect tothe swinging arm I02 by inserting it in alternate openings I60.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 to 6inclusive is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and it is to benoted that a right or left turn made by the truck will cause thesteering wheels 82 to swing to the respective positions so that thetrailer wheels will follow the tracks of the draft .vehicle.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the inventionand that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A trailer and draft vehicle therefor comprising an axle carried by thetrailer, wheel supporting stub axles mounted on the ends of the axlecarrying wheels, a laterally extending arm connected to each stub axle,a radius rod connecting said laterally extending arms, a shaft journaledin the trailer frame extending longitudinally therefrom, at one side ofthe trailer, crank arms depending from the ends of said shaft, a linkconnecting one of the crank arms to one. of the laterally extending armsof the stub axles, a U-shaped clamp connected to the rear of the draftvehicle, a connecting arm pivotally connected to one of the arms of theU-shaped clamp and to the trailer and a depending link pivotallyconnected to the other arm of the U-shaped clamp and to the remainingdepending arm of the longitudinally extending shaft.

CHARLES CALVIN HUNT.

